2010 Acura ZDX Neither a SUV nor a sedan

2010 Acura ZDX

2010 Acura ZDX

Acura ZDX fills a grey zone between Acura's MDX crossover and its RL luxury sedan, and takes on the body style embraced by hard-to-categorize cars like the BMW X6. Though capable of hauling five passengers, the ZDX's layout lends more space to the front passengers, with cargo capacity reaching 55.8 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down. A standard power liftgate reveals the storage area, and a separate compartment beneath the trunk allows for discreet storage.

The unibody chassis houses a 3.7-liter V6 producing 300 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, mated to the same new six-speed automatic transmission found in the 2010 MDX. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system diverts between 10 and 70 percent of the torque to either the front to rear, and up to 100 percent of torque between the right and left wheels. Fuel economy is estimated at 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.

Three equipment packages will be available when the ZDX hits the market this December. A "technology" package tops the base model, adding a voice recognition–activated navigation system, a multi-view rear camera with normal, wide and top view perspectives, an upgraded 10-speaker audio system and keyless entry. The Advance package goes further, adding adaptive magneto-rheological suspension (the same type of system found on many Corvettes) and variable assist steering that can be altered via a "comfort/sport" switch, a blind-spot detector, ventilated seats and a collision-mitigation braking system that produces up to 0.2 g of stopping power when necessary.

The ZDX comes across as surprisingly large in person, and its unusual lines boast several curious design details. The ZDX's windshield features the world's first continuous glass surface that stretches from hood to bumper—a distance of over 12 feet. Hidden rear door handles emphasize the ZDX's coupe-like overtures, and at over 12.5 inches, the panel depth of the rear fender is the deepest draw in the industry and makes for muscular shoulders.

Pricing has not yet been announced for the ZDX, but expect it to be positioned between the RL and MDX, placing it in the mid-$40,000 range.